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Elbow are a long-standing British group who have kind of passed me by so far, hence I’m only just reviewing this single, One Day Like This, even though it’s been out a few months. I’m sure I’m not alone in only really taking notice of the band after they won the 2008 Mercury Music Prize in September.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve actually been aware of Elbow for years now, partly because they hail from Manchester, where I currently reside, and partly because they have flirted with mainstream success without fully achieving global fame.
The band have been around an incredible 18 years, being started in 1990 by lead singer Guy Garvey and some mates from college. It wasn’t until 1997 that they became Elbow and signed their first record deal, but it was still 10 years before they won the Mercury Music Prize, most often associated with new acts.
Commercial success may always have alluded the band, but their a fan and critic favourite alike. And this single, which reached number 35 in the British charts, shows why so many people love Elbow.
One Day Like This is a spectacular song, showing Elbow’s use of orchestral instruments and anthemic basslines off to their full potential. But the best instrument at their disposal is Garvey’s voice, which has a gravelly quality that lifts it above your usual indie band singer.
The song swoops and sways its way from beginning to end, with the whole thing feeling optimistic and making you feel on top of the world. It’s one of those songs that instantly lifts my mood whenever I hear it.
The video is a bizarre beast, showing a guy in what looks like L.A. using his advertising sign as a means of showing off his dancing skills. There’s something strangely hypnotic about it and it fits the song well, but it does drag on towards the end.
Song: 9/10
Video: 6/10
[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]
